Yesterday was the first day of programming, and it was great to begin to meet my fellow ITF members better. We spent the early afternoon hours in our floor's bomb shelter--a room I now jokingly refer to as the sauna, as bomb shelters are not well known for their ventilation and air flow--covering some basics about the program and our locality. After that thrilling slideshow, which our program leaders Maor and Michal managed to make funny (albeit sometimes just as a result of poor English skills) we were divided up into groups for a city-wide scavenger hunt.
On this exploration adventure we had many tasks and locations to document. We scoured the city for monuments such as a statue of David Ben Gurion at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev and some local nighttime hotspots. The tasks included taking pictures with falafel makers and Israeli soldiers and nurses at the local hospital. One of the more challenging tasks was to take a picture of three strangers acting out the "hear no evil, speak no evil, say no evil" monkeys. While on the university campus we found a group of students studying on the lawn and quickly requested their assistance. After deducing they spoke English we discovered them to be German exchange students and became enthralled in a lengthy conversation about our respective experiences, their favorite local spots, and just enjoying each others' pleasant company. I was a bit embarrassed that I have lost all but snipets of my high school German, but regardless it was a welcomed interaction.
By the time we finished or conversation with our new found friends, we had accepted that winning the challenge was no longer in the cards; yet all of us agreed we had stumbled upon an experience few others would have gotten. After a few more hours of wandering and getting lost (my favorite way to learn about places) we made our way back to the apartment in time for our next activity--a picnic!
Our leaders had picked out a phenomenal spot at the Monument to the Negev Brigade which overlooked the entire city. The memorial, which commemorates the Palmach's Negev brigade that fought for Israeli independence in 1948 and conquered Be'er Sheva, is an abstract concrete fort with tunnels, towers, and spires. One part in particular, a dome shaped room, has amazing acoustic designs that make even the slightest sounds resonate and echo. As we munched on pita and hummus, surprisingly my first taste since arriving, the sun began setting over the sprawling city, illuminating everything with an amazing red glow that reminded me of the Binary Sunset in Star Wars Episode IV.
This may sound weird, but it has not really sunk in yet that I am in Israel and will be for the next ten months. So far it is almost as if we are just all beginning a regular college experience, but I am sure that will all change as we delve deeper into the program and begin teaching.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The Adventure Begins (8/27/12)
After spending my last full day stateside, I was more than excited to get en route to Israel. Arriving at the Newark airport (courtesy of the Hammer family) a few hours early, I breezed through check-in and TSA in a flash--there was literally one other person in front of me at the security checkpoint! After Amy arrived a few minutes later as her usual bubbly self, we began what became an ordeal of a boarding process.
Boarding hundreds of passengers ranging from many walks of life (many of them Jewish) was hectic to say the least. Orthodox families, womens' groups, teen tours, family vacationers alike piled onto the El Al flight and insanity ensued. After quickly finding overhead storage and my seat, I watched from the rear of the plane with shock and amusement; never before had I seen so much haggling over seats and fighting for storage.
As the flight filled an old Israeli woman speaking broken English approached me, saying something about not sleeping. Let's just say my Hebrew skills are minimal at this point in the trip (although its already getting significantly better), and was rescued by a nearby traveler who translated. It turns out the woman wanted my aisle seat because she didn't want to get stuck in the middle in case both aisle passengers fell asleep. I value my aisle seats more than anything, treasuring the extra leg room and easy access to the bathrooms and could not imagine sitting in a middle seat for almost eleven hours. Luckily the other aisle was available and the situation diffused and she claimed the other side of the row.
Amy and I eventually were able to switch to sit next to each other on the otherwise uneventful flight. Three movies and nearly a dozen hours in transit later we arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. The Israeli sun shone through the terminal's frosted windows like a light from heaven, greeting us at long last.
Unfortunately that excitement momentarily gave way to disappointment as we discovered our next twelve hours were to be spent in the terminal awaiting other arrivals and the bus to Be'er Sheva. Luckily we stumbled upon Craig, a fellow program member who had arrived at 4 am (3 hours before our 7 am landing!) and wasted the hours away laughing and playing Monopoly Deal.
More and more Israel Teaching Fellows (ITF) arrived and exhaustion posed little resistance to the influx of so many new friends and colleagues! By nightfall we arrived at Be'er Sheva, dispersed into our respective apartments and set up camp for the long haul. I will be sure to post pictures of my new home as soon as they are uploaded, and another entry is coming on the heels of this one!
Boarding hundreds of passengers ranging from many walks of life (many of them Jewish) was hectic to say the least. Orthodox families, womens' groups, teen tours, family vacationers alike piled onto the El Al flight and insanity ensued. After quickly finding overhead storage and my seat, I watched from the rear of the plane with shock and amusement; never before had I seen so much haggling over seats and fighting for storage.
As the flight filled an old Israeli woman speaking broken English approached me, saying something about not sleeping. Let's just say my Hebrew skills are minimal at this point in the trip (although its already getting significantly better), and was rescued by a nearby traveler who translated. It turns out the woman wanted my aisle seat because she didn't want to get stuck in the middle in case both aisle passengers fell asleep. I value my aisle seats more than anything, treasuring the extra leg room and easy access to the bathrooms and could not imagine sitting in a middle seat for almost eleven hours. Luckily the other aisle was available and the situation diffused and she claimed the other side of the row.
Amy and I eventually were able to switch to sit next to each other on the otherwise uneventful flight. Three movies and nearly a dozen hours in transit later we arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. The Israeli sun shone through the terminal's frosted windows like a light from heaven, greeting us at long last.
Unfortunately that excitement momentarily gave way to disappointment as we discovered our next twelve hours were to be spent in the terminal awaiting other arrivals and the bus to Be'er Sheva. Luckily we stumbled upon Craig, a fellow program member who had arrived at 4 am (3 hours before our 7 am landing!) and wasted the hours away laughing and playing Monopoly Deal.
More and more Israel Teaching Fellows (ITF) arrived and exhaustion posed little resistance to the influx of so many new friends and colleagues! By nightfall we arrived at Be'er Sheva, dispersed into our respective apartments and set up camp for the long haul. I will be sure to post pictures of my new home as soon as they are uploaded, and another entry is coming on the heels of this one!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
3. 2. 1. Launch!
I feel like a kid about to attend his first day of college all over again. In just a few short days I will be transported from the wonderful Bay Area to the Holy Land. The journey to this point in my life has been long and winding, and the process has been anything but easy--but at long last things are falling into place. While in Israel as an Israel Teaching Fellow (one of MASA's new programs), I will teach English, learn Hebrew, volunteer in the community, and explore a country that I have admired from afar most of my life.
This enterprise represents an opportunity combining my love of teaching with my adventurous personality. An unmatched opportunity to learn about both the world and myself. A chance to gain perspective from outside the American classroom. A life changing experience.
And as bold as I may be, I am fortuitous enough to have my good friend Amy Wolfish along for the ride. Filled with anxiety about acceptance and a frantic dash to get everything accomplished in just a few days, it has been very reassuring that a little bit of home will be traveling abroad with me.
Throughout the year this shall be the record of my adventures. I plan to post at least once a week (although I can't guarantee that will be the case) with information about my program, my travels, and my personal growth. This trip marks my first long-term venture away from the comfort of the United States, and I look forward to every minute of it.
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